From what I've seen in the media about this, two of the prime concerns for the AF is the cost and ease of operation. If both these pan out then getting it to carry a crew module to the ISS in a civilian variant of the craft might well be a future option for the US.

Also if it could be possible to launch in a few days as the AF hope, it could act as an emergency support craft for ISS or a Biggelow station. It could carry emergency equipment or retrieve escape pods not designed for re-entry on their own.

Actually the more I think about it the more I think that something like an emergency service might be required to support commercial stations and craft. A vehicle like the X-37 which is envisaged to be able to launch on need quickly in a number of different roles could fulfill this requirement. A future international collaboration using the X-37, different emergency modules and a mini robotic arm to capture pods or equipment on orbit could be good for commercial space. Government has traditionally served this role on Earth it makes sense for them to continue in space.

_________________A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Ha, so you're expecting one decked out in the colours of the US Coast Guard? Not such a crazy idea actually. It would only make sense if the stations had life boats that couldn't land. The ISS has a Soyuz as a life boat, which will get the crew down in an hour or so in an emergency. That's still much less than the turnaround time of the X-37. But you might imagine Bigelow having a bunch of inflatable escape pods similar to the 1 m diameter balls that NASA has or had, but bigger so that people can survive for a few days. Those'll burn up on re-entry, so you'll need something to get the people down. Something akin to X-37 might work.

We'll have to see first if the re-entry goes well though. Essentially all they've done so far is launched a satellite that happens to have wings.

_________________Say, can you feel the thunder in the air? Just like the moment ’fore it hits – then it’s everywhereWhat is this spell we’re under, do you care? The might to rise above it is now within your sphereMachinae Supremacy – Sid Icarus

An Earth Orbit Ambulance... interesting! I hadn't thought of that but it sounds plausable.

Would it be easily converted into a manned craft? Or at least able to carry passengers?

I could see the X-37, or whatever comes out of the X-37 tests, playing multiple roles as a sort of "general purpose" spacecraft. (Bringing DOD experiments, payloads and sensors to orbit; emergency vehicle; passenger vehicle to bring military personel to space stations; maybe even a weapon to use against enemy sattelites?) The X-37 must be more like the concept vehicle, whatever come from these tests might be bigger/better! I'm excieted to see where this goes!

Does anyone know if it is landing at Vandenberg or Edwards? Or perhaps when?